The “Universal Serial Bus” is the most common and popular cable used to connect our computers with any kind of peripheral devices like tablets, mobile phones, etc. The main objective of this cable connection is to transfer data between the two devices. There are many ways to transfer the data, but transferring data using a USB cable is faster and more reliable. For example, if you want to transfer some images that you clicked from your mobile phone to your computer, then you can simply connect the phone to a computer using a USB cable. A notification will pop on your mobile screen that will ask you to opt for “Data Transfer”. Then you can just select the pictures and transfer them to your computer hassle-free.
Types Of USB Cable
There are different types of cables that have different versions. Every version has a different length and data transfer rate. Let us explore more about the types of USB cables.
USB 1.0
The first ever USB cable had just the maximum data transfer rate of 12Mbps, and the length was three meters.
USB 2.0
Released in the year 2000, it was the first ever version of USB. It has a maximum data transfer speed of 480Mbps, and it was mostly used for transferring data in the form of images, text files, and audio files, but not videos. This cable can be as long as up to five meters.
USB 3.0
With a maximum transfer speed of 5Gbps, the USB 3.0 was first released in the year 2008. It also offers an upgraded power of 15 watts and can be used for a variety of devices. The maximum length for USB 3.0 is two meters.
USB 3.1
The upgraded version of USB 3.0 was released in the year 2013. It has a maximum data transfer speed of 10Gbps, which is just double that of USB 3.0. This cable can be as long as up to one meter.
USB 4.0
The latest release of USB cable has a maximum data transfer rate of 40Gbps, and its length is reduced to just 0.8 meters.
Why do USB Cables have a maximum length?
Theoretically, there is no maximum length for USB cables; they can be as long as we want. But this surely impacts the quality of the data transfer rate. After a certain length, the data transfer speed will decrease. Beyond the standard length, the signal will start to degrade; this is because of a signaling method called duplex. If the data transfer speed is higher, then the USB host transfers the packet quickly, and therefore the data is received at a faster rate.
How to extend the USB cable length?
There are many ways by which you can extend the length of a USB cable. Let us explore.
USB Cable Extenders
The most common way to extend the length of a USB cable is by using extenders. An extender is a powered device that can boost your signal and transfer it quickly. There are three types of extenders:
Active USB Extenders
These extenders use electronic circuits inside them to boost the signal. They require an external power adapter like a USB power supply to provide them power.
Passive USB Extenders
These extenders use copper wires to enhance the data signal, which makes them to not go beyond a certain limit length. One can use these for a short length.
Optical USB Extenders
These are the best USB extenders that use fiber optic cables to transfer the data. The data is transmitted in the form of light, which travels at a faster pace than electricity. These are high maintenance and, therefore, a bit expensive.
USB Over Ethernet Extender
If you want to transfer data over a long distance, like 100 meters, then you can use an ethernet cable. The data transmission is super fast and secure using these cables; therefore, these can be used to extend the USB cable. You can use a USB over Ethernet extender with single or multi-port according to your requirements.
Powered USB Hubs
A hub is a device that is used to connect multiple devices in a network. A USB hub is a device that allows multiple USBs to connect together. It can be efficiently used to transfer data by extending the length of a USB cable. There is a concept of “daisy-chaining” the USB hubs to transmit the data over longer distances.
Active and Optical USB Cables
The concept of these cables is very much similar to that of the extenders. You can transfer data using these cables too, which can help in extending the length of standard USB cables.
Conclusion
If you are someone who deals with data transfer using USB cables, then investing in a quality USB cable seems a good idea. You can opt for cables for their easy-to-use features, and you can also go for hubs or extenders for data transmission over longer distances.
